New MSU hoops commit Alvin Ellis hopes to start Chicago trend

Apr. 26, 2013

Written by

Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

EAST LANSING — If Alvin Ellis III has his way, Michigan State basketball may soon be known as the Chicago East Spartans.

“I’m working on it,” said Ellis, a Chicago De La Salle senior shooting guard and Tom Izzo’s latest recruit, who signed Wednesday and was texting with the No. 1 player in the class of 2014 on Thursday to try to sway him in MSU’s direction.

That would be big man Jahlil Okafor of Chicago Whitney Young, who is considering MSU, Duke, Ohio State and many others. MSU also has offered 2014 big man Cliff Alexander of Chicago Curie (No. 5 in the Rivals.com rankings) and is recruiting point guard Tyler Ulis of Chicago Heights Marian Catholic (No. 69).

“I’m gonna be working on all three of those guys,” said Ellis, who is especially close with Ulis because they have been AAU teammates. “Hopefully it will pay off.”

Ellis signed with MSU after decommitting from Minnesota. He did that after Minnesota fired Tubby Smith and before it hired Richard Pitino as his replacement. Missouri, Texas, Providence and Texas Tech — Smith’s new employer — came with offers, but Ellis said MSU was an easy choice after he visited East Lansing last weekend.

The 6-foot-3 shooting guard averaged 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists a game as a senior for De La Salle.

“We like his offensive skill set, especially his shooting touch, hitting 40% from three each of the last two seasons,” Izzo said in a statement of Ellis. “He’s got good length and versatility, with the ability to defend a couple different positions on the perimeter.”

And he is friends with MSU’s other 2013 recruit, 6-9 big man Gavin Schilling of Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep. Schilling played for De La Salle as a junior.

“He’s going to be a great player,” Ellis said.

Many would say the same of Okafor and Alexander, and MSU is trying to convince them to play together.

And Ellis would say that Ulis — cousin of former MSU guard Travis Walton — also will be a great one. MSU is chasing 2014 point guard Tyus Jones (Rivals.com No. 3) of Apple Valley, Minn., and has yet to offer Ulis.

“He might be a top-five point guard in the country,” Ellis said of the 5-8 Ulis. “I haven’t seen anyone who can stick him.”

Contact Joe Rexrode: 313-222-2625 or jrexrode@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @joerexrode. Check out his MSU blog at freep.com/heyjoe.